PSC chief: No new contracts

As he starts clearing his desk for the next administration, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia is hands off when it comes to signing new contracts.

Garcia said with just over three weeks before incoming President Rodrigo Duterte takes his oath, the current PSC board is about ready to yield power and all its duties.

“We’re avoiding signing any (new) contracts or extending (old ones) until the new administration comes in,” said Garcia, the PSC chairman the past six years.

“If there are any more contracts to sign we will leave it up to the new administration,” he said.

When the new President comes in, the PSC board, including commissioners Salvador Andrada, Iggy Clavecilla, Jolly Gomez and Akiko Thomson-Guevara, will have to tender their resignations.

The terms of the top PSC officials, including that of executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, are co-terminus with that of President Aquino.

Duterte then gets a free hand in naming the new board.

“We are following due process for whoever comes in,” said Garcia, now the longest-running PSC official. He started out as a commissioner in 1998.

“We try to clear our tables that when we leave we’ve done what we’re supposed to do. We are trying to finish the things that we have started that are left hanging,” he said.

It doesn’t mean, however, that top PSC officials are just hanging around their offices because there are tasks to perform until their replacements come in. Until then, they hold on to their posts. “We are still doing our normal day-to-day jobs here but we’re not pushing or rushing any decisions. Definitely, things that cannot wait, we have to finish them,” said Garcia.

“Our work continues especially if it’s for the athletes. Those we have approved and will have to take effect until August we are working on it. Decisions are not made overnight,” he added.

Among other things, it’s the Rio Olympics in August that’s taking up the last remaining days of the current PSC board.

Garcia said they’ve made sure everything is in place for the Philippine delegation to the Summer Games scheduled Aug. 5-21.

“Whatever the athletes or the coaches need we are ready to provide. They should not be worried. We have (allocated) a budget of P30 million,” he said.

“We have more than enough to answer to their needs,” Garcia said.

For now, no new contracts.